Miller is not copying the style of Sin City. That looks like his original graphic novel work. What he did was "draw" The Spirit in his art style. It doesn't fit the character, but it's much more like the comics world where different artists will draw the same character in different styles. Miller is simply bringing that to the film world. 300 and Sin City copied Miller in the first place.
The Spirit flops!
- Thread starter CaptainCanada
- Start date
Miller's stuff tries to be all arty and badass, but it's just pure shit, imo.
Agreed.
Agreed.
How can this movie flop ? It has Scarlett Johansson as a dominatrix! What's the matter with you people!!!
It does?
Hmmmmm, it appears I misunderstood what some of the early advertising for this film was saying. Oh well.
I wasn't contradicting you, I was wondering if you were joking or if you were serious.
Frank Miller doesn't really have a lot of experience as a director, does he?
No. Sin City is proof the only reason why it's halfway decent is because of Robert Rodriguez.
The whole "co-director" thing on Sin City is just because Rodriguez hewed so closely to the comics panels that he felt that Miller deserved credit for the visuals; he didn't actually do any "sit in a chair and direct scenes" stuff (as many, many scenes in The Spirit demonstrate).
No, Frank Miller did serve as co-director on Sin City. Rodriguez fought so hard for Miller's involvement as co-director that he resigned from the DGA (Director's Guild of America) which usually only allows directing partnerships when the two directors are brothers (such as The Coen Brothers or The Wachowksi Siblings). Quentin Tarantino also directed a scene of Sin City. So technically there were three directors working on the film (because of Tarantino's involvement, he was credited as "Special Guest Director").
The only thing that connects Sin City & The Spirit is Frank Miller. Besides an inherent similarity in the style of both films, they are radically different. The Spirit is more attune to the style and tone of Dick Tracy (just without pretty much everything that made that film fun) than Sin City.
Favourite reviewer comment, from the dean of film critics, Roger Ebert: "To call the characters cardboard is to insult a useful packing material."
You're right in the account of Rodriguez fighting for Miller's credit, but he got the credit for exactly the reason listed above: the film's close adherence to the original panels' visuals. Rodriguez has said as much. Miller wasn't directing the actors in that film.
Gotta love Ebert.
To quote Wikipedia, which admittedly isn't the best source. I'll try and find a better one:
^^
I had not read that Miller interacted much with the actors. I'm curious to see what other sources on that you can find.
I think, though, if The Spirit demonstrates anything, it's that Rodriguez was integral to crafting believable performances out of his actors, and with him gone, The Spirit is the result.
I didn't really consider Tarantino--his material in the film is so minor that it's more of a shout out to fanboys that he was involved at all.
I had not read that Miller interacted much with the actors. I'm curious to see what other sources on that you can find.
I think, though, if The Spirit demonstrates anything, it's that Rodriguez was integral to crafting believable performances out of his actors, and with him gone, The Spirit is the result.
I didn't really consider Tarantino--his material in the film is so minor that it's more of a shout out to fanboys that he was involved at all.
The advertising campaign suggested as much but having read a bit more on the subject it looks like I'm wrong.
Oh well, flop away.
I've got the uncut edition and in the special features you can see him advising allot of the actors about their characters. From what I remember, the actress that played Miho was practically his student. Also I think part of what kept Alba engaged is Miller telling her how he plans to develop Nancy's character into an arse kicking P.I. So I think it's fair to say he gave story and character directing, not necessarily performance directing.
Can't comment on 'The Spirit' as I don't plan on watching it until it comes out on DVD rental. Not holding my breath.
I really enjoyed both "300" and "Sin City," but like so many others, the trailer for "The Spirit" looked SO bad that I gave the movie a pass. Sounds like almost everyone else did as well.
Instead, this weekend my wife and I saw "Slumdog Millionaire," which was fucking great. Really glad I chose to see that instead of "Spirit."
Instead, this weekend my wife and I saw "Slumdog Millionaire," which was fucking great. Really glad I chose to see that instead of "Spirit."
Was anyone even looking forward to this movie? I don't recall hearing any real fanboy buzz about it the way you typically get with comic book adaptions.
